What would be an acceptable return from next 2 games ?

[sligoman]

6, nothing less.

[Billsthoughts]

I think we will take 6 points. We should have the beating of both these teams. Trappatoni and his backroom staff have a lot of experience at a high level. They will send a team out that knows what they are doing. I also think we will get better as the group goes on and we will not lose to Bulgaria or Italy at home. I think we will drop all 3 points away to Italy tho. All comes down to how good Bulgaria are.
Im looking forward to it all anyways. COME ON IRELAND!!!!!!!!

[Brendan 82]

If we want to qualify we need six points. To say we shouldbe getting six points off these teams is a bit old fashioned I believe. The days of who should and should not be winning games in International football are pretty much gone.

[irishultra]

Koumas and Steven Reid would be a great CM pairing.

James Collins on the form of a year and a half ago would be an addition for us too.

By and large we have a better class of player than Wales alright, at senior level.

I honestly believe A.Reid is a better player than Koumas, much more influential anyway. But agreed, James Collins would probably get into our starting line up now.


Anyway only 3 days left, the waiting is killing me.:D

[Torn-Ado]

6 points. Last time we qualified for a tournament we beat every lower seeded team at home and away. Bulgaria and Italy will dispose of those two sides with ease. We have to aswell.

[Hibs4Ever]

6 points

[carloz]

The last competition we qualified for, the 2002 World Cup, we took all the points off everyone bar the top two seeds. We beat Cyprus, Estonia and Cyrpus home and away. I know the lesser nations are quite tougher in this group, and that it is a very very tall ask to get 6 points off of each of Montenegro, Cyprus and Georgia. But that has to be the aim. Failing that we simply have to get more points against these nations than Bulgaria. There is a possibilty that we could come second in this grop and not actually makes the playoffs, and that worries me a lot. I think we should be looking at 6 points from the first 2 games. Getting Georgia in Germany is a massive advantage for us, as is playing Montenegro second, rather than first like Bulgaria have to do. I think its vital that Trap gets the mindset of the players right, and rules out any talk that 4 points will be enough.

[boovidge]

The last competition we qualified for, the 2002 World Cup, we took all the points off everyone bar the top two seeds. We beat Cyprus, Estonia and Cyrpus home and away.

I thought we seemed to be playing Cyprus alot recently :p



I dont think we need to get six here because as I've said before, I think Bulgaria will drop points. However I wouldnt be satisfied with anything less than six, especially as we're playing Georgia on neutral ground.

[irishultra]

6 points. Last time we qualified for a tournament we beat every lower seeded team at home and away. Bulgaria and Italy will dispose of those two sides with ease. We have to aswell.

They really won't, especially not Bulgaria.

Bulgaria Euro 2008:
Luxembourg 0-Bulgaria 1
Bulgaria 0-Albania 0
Bulgaria 2-Belarus 1
Albania 1-Bulgaria 1


People think Bulgaria are some awesome technical side, they are basically us but more organised.


I reckon Italy will get a mighty shock in this group, I honestly do.

[shakermaker1982]

They really won't, especially not Bulgaria.

Bulgaria Euro 2008:
Luxembourg 0-Bulgaria 1
Bulgaria 0-Albania 0
Bulgaria 2-Belarus 1
Albania 1-Bulgaria 1



San Marino 1 Ireland 2
Cyprus 5 Ireland 2
Ireland 1 Cyprus 1

Bulagaria are probably thinking the same about us :D

[tetsujin1979]

I reckon Italy will get a mighty shock in this group, I honestly do.
In their recent history, they needed a 90th minute winner to beat Scotland in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, drew 1-1 with the Scots in World Cup 2006 qualifiers, and lost to Wales 2-1 in the qualifiers for Euro 2004. So, they're due at least one bad result in this qualifiers!

[wooman]

has to be 6 points and no less

[mjpcc]

A win in the Georgia game is crucuial. There will be a very negative desperate vibe heading into the Montenegro game with anything less.

6 points is an awful big ask. When exactly is the last time ROI won two competitive games on the road against relatively decent opposition?

[eirebhoy]

6 points. Last time we qualified for a tournament we beat every lower seeded team at home and away. Bulgaria and Italy will dispose of those two sides with ease. We have to aswell.
You only have to look at every group from the Euro 08 qualifiers to see that there's a small chance of Bulgaria and Italy having 4 comfortable wins against these 2 teams.

[boovidge]

From RTE Interview with Shane Long:

Asked if four points would be a creditable return, 21-year-old Long replied: 'Yes, that would be good.

'But if we could get six points...that's what we are aiming for.'

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2008/0903/ireland.html

[Cymro]

Player for player we are in a different League to Wales. I would take Bellamy and Bale(because he's a natural left back) and that would be it.

In Cardiff that day we dominated them, I actually thought we would destroy them that day.

:D

Thanks for that. I needed a laugh after the day I've had.

I argued this with a load of Irish around the time of the last qualifiers and the general consensus was that while Ireland have marginally better players man for man there are a significant number of Welsh players who would get into a 'joint XI'.

I also think that even your fans would disagree with you about the 2-2 in Cardiff; heck, even the RTE match report said we deserved the draw.

[ArdeeBhoy]

4 points out of 6 would be excellent I think and well within our capabilitly. However this is tempered by years of disastrous away performances from the Boys in Green. I suppose 3 out of 6 wouldn't be too bad neither. What are you all expecting points wise over the next 2 games ?

Want 6, hope for 4, expect 2.


Nothing against Trap. and the lads. If he can make Ireland like Jack & Mick did, briefly, capable of beating 'minnows'* away from home, then all well and good.

* Albeit these lesser teams have improved, especially in the context of being obligingly beaten, that only 5-6 teams in Europe could be guaranteed victory against them!

[tricky_colour]

Anything less then 2 would be a poor start :)

[Wexford Delboy]

Anything less then 2 would be a poor start :)

not the most optimistic of irish fans are ya

[cobra]

Would definetly be hoping for 3 points against georgia considering its gonna be like a home game for us, would think more so than croker even as genuine fans here in a small stadium should create a great atmosphere and backing for the team.. Hopefully the other teams in the group will have to go to tbilisi later on and drop points..
Monty is unknown territory and will know more about them when they take on the bulgarians saturday night.

[Torn-Ado]

It would be nice to be still in with a shout of qualifying after two games this year.

[Tipp Townie]

I do feel like anything less than 4 points would be a disaster, although it is always possible to recover from awful starts. But i do also think that we have to be aiming for 6 points as THE acceptable return from these games, especially given that we're only really missing one player from our starting XI. Bearing in mind how rare it is to be able to select an international squad with zero injuries/suspensions, then our team is looking as strong its going to get (although it is a blow to lose Duff, at least we have a number of options on the wings).

It'll be interesting to view our results with retrospect. Lets be honest, we don't really know what to expect from Montenegro as a team, or as a place to go and play. What we do know about Georgia is that its a very difficult place to go and get a win, and as such it is a massive plus that we are playing them on neutral ground.

If we're organised and play generally to our potential then we should achieve two comfortable wins, i'd say 2-0 v Georgia, and perhaps 3-1 v Montenegro, given their apparent 'frailty' at the back.

However i think it will end up tighter than that, particularly in Podgorica.

[boovidge]

I see Kevin Doyle said that if the team was offered 4 points now theyd take it. Not the attitude to be having at all, going into two games against weaker opposition! :mad:

[Kingdom]

I see Kevin Doyle said that if the team was offered 4 points now theyd take it. Not the attitude to be having at all, going into two games against weaker opposition! :mad:

I agree I saw the Long interview this morning and I was p*ssed off with that yeah. They should be aiming for 3 points against Georgia, without question. Whatever about it being in Tblisi, certainly now its in Mainz.
Which means that they'd be happy with a draw in Montenegro.

[Torn-Ado]

In all fairness they hardly strike you as an ambitious bunch.

[tricky_colour]

Pessimists are never disappointed :)

[SUB of the day]

6 points aint gonna happen, 4 points would be fantastic.I can't see us losing either game, so I expect 2 points, maybe a 1 1 and a 0 0.

[Stuttgart88]

I agree I saw the Long interview this morning and I was p*ssed off with that yeah. They should be aiming for 3 points against Georgia, without question. Whatever about it being in Tblisi, certainly now its in Mainz.
Which means that they'd be happy with a draw in Montenegro.I'm not that fussed what the players say. I prefer them to do their talking with their feet.

Half the time words are put in their mouths anyway. Hack: "Would Venables be ok? Player: "yeah". Headline "Player Wants Venables".

[Montenegrin]

In my opinion,you will be able to beat Georgia in Germany(if you had played in Tbilisi i would say X).
I think that neither you or Bulgaria will be able to beat us in Podgorica.
We have very strong offansive with Vučinić(AS Roma),Jovetić(Fioretina) and Vukčević(Sporting Lisabon-scored nice goal against Bolton last year in Uefa cup-they wanted to buy him later for 12 milion euro).
Our middlefield is quite good also with Peković(Mainz),Bošković(Rapid Wien) and Drinčić who plays for Russian team Amkar you probablly never heard of,but believe me he is good enough to play in premier league clubs like Wigan,Sunderland...
We also have good side backs with Pavićević(Cotbus-Germany) and Božović(Rapid Bucuresti).Our main problem are our center backs Tanasijević(Dinamo Moscow) and Batak(Ankaraspor) who are not on top of their performance.
All in all,I think that we have quite strong team esspecially up front.Our defence is weaker part of the team.Surely I cant think off another country that has 700 000 population and that have better team than we do.My predictions for these two games would be:win against Bulgaria 3-1 and win against Ireland 3-2.
I may be wrong,but we will see.

[ifk101]

In my opinion,you will be able to beat Georgia in Germany(if you had played in Tbilisi i would say X).
I think that neither you or Bulgaria will be able to beat us in Podgorica.
We have very strong offansive with Vučinić(AS Roma),Jovetić(Fioretina) and Vukčević(Sporting Lisabon-scored nice goal against Bolton last year in Uefa cup-they wanted to buy him later for 12 milion euro).
Our middlefield is quite good also with Peković(Mainz),Bošković(Rapid Wien) and Drinčić who plays for Russian team Amkar you probablly never heard of,but believe me he is good enough to play in premier league clubs like Wigan,Sunderland...
We also have good side backs with Pavićević(Cotbus-Germany) and Božović(Rapid Bucuresti).Our main problem are our center backs Tanasijević(Dinamo Moscow) and Batak(Ankaraspor) who are not on top of their performance.
All in all,I think that we have quite strong team esspecially up front.Our defence is weaker part of the team.My predictions for these two games would be:win against Bulgaria 3-1 and win against Ireland 3-2.
I may be wrong,but we will see.

I don't think you'll score 6 goals against Ireland and Bulgaria. But Montenegro does have a reasonable chance of upsetting both us and Bulgaria.

[shakermaker1982]

well I hope you beat Bulgaria 3-1!!!!

[Delbertt]

If Montenergro beat Bulgaria would we then be happy with a point in Podgorica as long as we beat Georgia?

[boovidge]

well it would be less of a disaster but we'd have missed the chance to put daylight between ourselves and the bulgarians.

[mjpcc]

In my opinion,you will be able to beat Georgia in Germany(if you had played in Tbilisi i would say X).
I think that neither you or Bulgaria will be able to beat us in Podgorica.
We have very strong offansive with Vučinić(AS Roma),Jovetić(Fioretina) and Vukčević(Sporting Lisabon-scored nice goal against Bolton last year in Uefa cup-they wanted to buy him later for 12 milion euro).
Our middlefield is quite good also with Peković(Mainz),Bošković(Rapid Wien) and Drinčić who plays for Russian team Amkar you probablly never heard of,but believe me he is good enough to play in premier league clubs like Wigan,Sunderland...
We also have good side backs with Pavićević(Cotbus-Germany) and Božović(Rapid Bucuresti).Our main problem are our center backs Tanasijević(Dinamo Moscow) and Batak(Ankaraspor) who are not on top of their performance.
All in all,I think that we have quite strong team esspecially up front.Our defence is weaker part of the team.Surely I cant think off another country that has 700 000 population and that have better team than we do.My predictions for these two games would be:win against Bulgaria 3-1 and win against Ireland 3-2.
I may be wrong,but we will see.

Thanks for the extra goal over the Bulgarians anyway :D - we might need it for goal difference in the end. I will be watching with interest your game against Bulgaria - good luck against them. Most of us know you have a good team and are not underestimating how difficult a game it will be for us.

A lot depends on results on Saturday, if we do the business against Georgia on Saturday - not an easy game either - we will be well up for the game against you, just as your results Saturday will affect team spirit for Wednesday. Here's hoping for some great games.

[lionelhutz]

well it would be less of a disaster but we'd have missed the chance to put daylight between ourselves and the bulgarians.

If Montenegro beat Bulgaria on Saturday, should we not then consider them to be as much of a threat (if not more so) than Bulgaria?

[Lionel Ritchie]

In my opinion,you will be able to beat Georgia in Germany(if you had played in Tbilisi i would say X).
I think that neither you or Bulgaria will be able to beat us in Podgorica.
We have very strong offansive with Vučinić(AS Roma),Jovetić(Fioretina) and Vukčević(Sporting Lisabon-scored nice goal against Bolton last year in Uefa cup-they wanted to buy him later for 12 milion euro).
Our middlefield is quite good also with Peković(Mainz),Bošković(Rapid Wien) and Drinčić who plays for Russian team Amkar you probablly never heard of,but believe me he is good enough to play in premier league clubs like Wigan,Sunderland...
We also have good side backs with Pavićević(Cotbus-Germany) and Božović(Rapid Bucuresti).Our main problem are our center backs Tanasijević(Dinamo Moscow) and Batak(Ankaraspor) who are not on top of their performance.
All in all,I think that we have quite strong team esspecially up front.Our defence is weaker part of the team.Surely I cant think off another country that has 700 000 population and that have better team than we do.My predictions for these two games would be:win against Bulgaria 3-1 and win against Ireland 3-2.
I may be wrong,but we will see.

Thanks for the insight Montenegrin. As has already been said, very few Irish are expecting the game against you guys to be anything but tough. Best of luck in your first campaign.

[backstothewall]

If like me you come at this from the perspective of believing we should be in with a shout of getting 2nd place in this group, then nothing less than 6 points should be acceptable. We are playing Georgia in a neutral venue and a montenegro side who have only played a handful of games together. I'm not saying it will be easy, but it is a challenge we should be able to over come, and we should not accept second best.

The old excuses about Irelands away record need putting to bed, and this is the best opportunity we will ever have to raise confidence in our own abilities outside of Dublin.

I suspect if it comes down to goal difference with the likes of Berbatov, Bojinov and the Petrovs we will miss out, so we really have to get our act together and start either getting some away results together, or battering the weaker teams.

Either way we need two wins this week.

[Montenegrin]

Thank you for nice wishes.I admit that I may be little bit to optimistic,but I think that we really have good team if you look player by player.Also we have beaten Norway,Hungary,Kazakstan and Estonia and had only one major loss to Romania prior the European Championship(it was 4-0,but we missed penalty and three one on one chanses in first 30 minutes,before they destroyed us) allready in the friendlies so I think that we have nothing to be affraid.
Let the best team win;).

[irishultra]

If like me you come at this from the perspective of believing we should be in with a shout of getting 2nd place in this group, then nothing less than 6 points should be acceptable. We are playing Georgia in a neutral venue and a montenegro side who have only played a handful of games together. I'm not saying it will be easy, but it is a challenge we should be able to over come, and we should not accept second best.

The old excuses about Irelands away record need putting to bed, and this is the best opportunity we will ever have to raise confidence in our own abilities outside of Dublin.

I suspect if it comes down to goal difference with the likes of Berbatov, Bojinov and the Petrovs we will miss out, so we really have to get our act together and start either getting some away results together, or battering the weaker teams.

Either way we need two wins this week.

I guarentee we score more goals in this campaign than Bulgaria.

[tetsujin1979]

Absolutely delighted to read this: http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_4102547,00.html

Giovanni Trapattoni has admitted he would not be happy with four points from the Republic of Ireland's opening two World Cup qualifiers.

[irishultra]

Yeah, when I heard Tony O'Donaghue saying that, I was like we have a winner here.

[backstothewall]

I guarentee we score more goals in this campaign than Bulgaria.

On paper we should, but where we will score 2 against Cyprus or Montenegro at home they will put 4 or 5 past one of them.

Irish sides always take the foot of the gas at the first sign of a 2 goal lead and it annoys the hell out of me in groups with goal diff

[irishultra]

We scored the same goals as them in the last campaign, but I do agree with you.